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James VI and I's only daughter was named after her god-mother, Queen Elizabeth I of England. She married a German prince, Frederick V, the Elector Palatine. In October 1619 the Protestants of Bohemia chose him as their king. From the start, their enemies called them the Winter King and Queen, correctly predicting that their rule would be short-lived. Surrounded by hostile Catholic neighbours, Frederick was defeated at the Battle of the White Mountain in November 1620 and the couple fled from Prague. This portrait was painted in The Hague, where Frederick and Elizabeth lived in exile.

Details

Acc. No.PG 1053

MediumOil on panel

Size66.00 x 55.90 cm (framed: 100.00 x 88.50 x 6.10 cm)

CreditPresented by Arthur W. Brown 1917

Studio of Michiel van Miereveld (Dutch, )

The son of a goldsmith, Michiel van Mierevelt was born in Delft. He trained with Anthonis van Blocklandt in Utrecht, returning to his home town in 1583. After painting some historical pictures, he turned exclusively to portraiture. He became official court painter to the Princes of Orange and became a member of the painter's guild of The Hague in 1625. He ran a busy studio, producing large numbers of portraits, and it is often difficult to distinguish his own work from that of assistants and copyists.